Rice rice rice .....do we have enough?

In Davao there are several fastfoods that offer unlimited rice or "Eat-All-U-Kanon" and this has been a come on to many people especially the young ones.

Rice to Filipinos goes well especially with barbq that is why many of these eateries to name some like Penongs, Mang Inasal, Pards, Banoks give a customer several servings of hot steam rice provided you eat all of them.

A classmate of my daughter Kim could consume 10 cups of cooked rice in one setting. The classmate is a he and I suppose he has a good appetite especially that when you eat in these fastfood store you are given an additional soup for free.

I am just wondering what happens next when some rice traders start to worry about the supply of rice. But the government however allayed this fear saying there is no rice shortage even as Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap earlier urged restaurants and other food outlets to only serve half of the rice order they serve their customers. Yap thought per order is too big for one to consume as many of the customers had some of these rice left on their plate ... sayang.

But Yap in recent pronouncements assured the people that there would be no rice rationing as the National Food Authority is bringing enough supply that would be complemented by the summer harvest season.

There are some quarters however that does not believe on this and doubts the government's earlier pronouncements.

Meanwhile President Arroyo directed the Department of Agriculture to go all-out against rice hoarders to ensure that cheap government rice end up on the tables of the intended consumers - the country's poor. NFA rice is sold at P18 per kilo.

Just like the price of oil that continue to escalate, the price of rice is also increasing as a kilo for a good kind is sold at P27 to P30 compared in the previous month where price ranges between P22 to P24.

Our farm keeper complained to me one Sunday morning about the price of rice that continues to rise and when I ask him what is their consumption I was shocked knowing they consume 10 kilos of rice a week for him, his wife and his daughter. That makes them about a sack of rice in a month.

On the other side of it too much carbo could add to your weight unless you burn them.

But our farm keeper said they need to eat more because of their work in the farm and they need the right energy.

And if we ask the authorities what now with this crisis? As what Yap said that supply would be complemented with the summer harvest we hope the yield is high so the price of rice will get back to where it was.

Filipinos need rice the poor especially as this is their main staple food - kahit walang ulam basta masarap ang kanin solve na (even without viand for as long as the rice is good will be okay) is the comment I heard often especially from the common people as rice will save them on high cost of food like meat, chicken, milk and other food stuff. "Kaya kahit na rice na lang busog na kami," the poor said.